SACRAMENTO >> The Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday voted 4-0 to temporarily remove state Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, from all committees on which he sits, as a federal investigation into his conduct continues.

And today, a group of City Council members from cities throughout his district, is expected to join Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Artesia, at a press conference in asking Calderon to resign.

State Sen. President Pro Tem Darryl Steinberg, who asked for the removal of Calderon from his committees, also announced that the Senate Ethics Committee is ready to begin an investigation into Calderon.

However, the probe will wait until the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles gives the go-ahead.

“I do not make this request lightly and none of us presume guilt or innocence of the underlying charges,” said Steinberg, D-Sacramento.

“The allegations are serious enough to potentially cloud any interaction the senator might have with colleagues, advocates or the public on issues within the committees’ jurisdiction,” said Steinberg. “Nothing is more sacred than the public trust of this great institution.”

Following Tuesday’s hearing, Calderon issued a statement and proclaimed his innocence.

“While I am defending myself against false allegations and illegal acts committed by a federal agency my commitment and resolve to continue providing the best legislative representation and the best services to my constituents remain firm,” the statement said. “Removing me from my committee assignments sends a risky and unsuitable message regarding our fundamental constitutional rights and the Presumption of Innocence.

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“I have not been charged or convicted with any unjust doing, yet I am being treated by this committee and some media outlets as if I had,” the statement continued. “The appropriate action to take would be to allow me to continue the work I was elected to do and to allow me to remain on my committee assignments.”

Calderon is under investigation in the alleged solicitation of $60,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent posing as a film producer and $28,000 from Dr. Michael Drobot, chief executive officer of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, according to an affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court that Al Jazeera America made public last month.

Calderon was removed from his position as chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee and his assignments on the Senate’s Insurance, Banking and Financial Institutions, Governmental Organization committees and its Select Committee on Procurement.

The Senate Rules Committee also eliminated the Senate Select Committee on California’s Film and Television Industry, which Calderon chaired. The panel has not convened since its inception earlier this year.

Steinberg said the Rules Committee’s action isn’t unprecedented but rather is comparable to what public agencies do with police officers accused of misconduct.

“The public agency often removes that individual from the line of duty with full pay, pending the investigation,” he said. “It’s done to protect the individual and to protect the public from any further action which could harm the public. The California public deserves no less protection.”

The Ethics Committee investigation is being delayed at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said Sacramento defense attorney Bill Portanova, special outside counsel who has been hired by the Office of Legislative Counsel to assist the Senate in matters dealing with the search warrant, subpoenas.

“This is a sensitive time and the investigations generally are conducted in secret,” Portanova said. “Any investigating gathering or witness interviewing could potentially hinder the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Miller asked that we hold off on the investigation, especially at this senstive time.”